FERRYBOX

Project timeline

Start:
November 2002

Duration:
36 months

End:
October 2005

General Information

The objectives of FERRYBOX are to show that ship-borne instrumentation can cost effectively deliver information of immediate scientific value and help to solve environmental problems, that FerryBox systems provide a reliable system for efficient monitoring and management in European waters, that the data can be assimilated into prognostic numerical models to improve their accuracy and finally, that such FerryBox systems offer potentials for a wider European contribution to GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System), with incorporation of European sensor and information technology. Measurements will be performed on ferries on 8 ferry lines in different European seas using comparative technology in the different FerryBoxes, which will have a minimal set of four sensors for salinity, temperature, fluorescence and turbidity. Depending on the local problems this standard set will be extended with optional sensors to measure nutrients, productivity, algae class composition, oxygen and pH. An overall activity will be to inter-calibrate the different sensors used so that a consistent and quality assured data set will be available for scientific studies and potential users. A two-year measuring period is envisaged for all FerryBox systems, so that their reliability and interannual variability can be shown.